GAPCO - Day 7 July 10

Another fantastic day... I know, I know, it seems to be getting monotonous me saying what a great day it was.  But it was!  We did about 40 miles all told.  

It was a great ride with the sun shining, the temperature perfect and the trail great.  

As I was riding early on, one thought came to mind...  God I love riding a bike! There is nothing better than being out on a bike riding through beautiful scenery.  It is so relaxing and soul reinforcing (don't think that is a word but it fit).  You can't  help but be in the moment and see and feel so much!

    A little stream feeding into the Potomac.

   Shear cliff dipping its toe into the canal.

    The canal meandering along the side of the trail.

A wonderful site just off the towpath trail was the Great Falls.  It is a series of falls that interrupts the pleasant flow of the Potomac.  

   It is more of the series of falls that comprise the Great Falls (pics above and below).

   Me at the main Great Falls...

    The Great Falls were one of the reasons the Potomac could not be used as a means of moving goods on the river.  It made it impossible to navigate both up and down the river.  The C&O canal was devised to give an easier way and more controlled way for commerce.

After the Great Falls we had a short 15 mile run down into DC.  The path from the Great Falls down to mile post 0 (end of trail) was very crowded with walkers, runners, bird watchers, and cyclists.  All the people coming out of DC for the day. Just outside of Washington the gravel trail turned into a paved path.  That was great but it meant we were getting close to the end.  😞

As we got into DC we began hearing the noise of civilization and the city... highway noise, airplanes overhead, etc.  We had been out in no where land for a week and hadn't noticed the absence of the typical intrusive sounds we filter out daily.  But it brought me back to the thought of reentry into the world.  😕 

The sites of the capital and the monuments were great though.

   The Lincoln Memorial...

    The Reflecting Pool...

    The Washington Monument...

   The Wprld War II Memorial...

    The moving/emotionally stirring Viet Nam War Memorial where the names of 56,000 US soldiers killed is listed.  

Alas, the trip has come to an end.  😳

But it is only the beginning of the adventures.  There is so much more to do and explore.  I have several adventures lined up in the coming months.  

So stay tuned!  

So long for now...  It was great riding with you!